Welcome to Sailfish –Burwain’s Junior sailing fleet!
Sailfish sessions includes a wide range of sailing activities for children from 8-18 years old. The philosophy of Sailfish is to encourage children to develop skills and gain confidence whilst learning to sail. Sailing sessions are always sociable and fun: we use games to learn new skills and gradually introduce the competitive side of sailing with mini races.
Burwain Sailing Club is affiliated to the RYA and we are an RYA Onboard Club. This means that our club is fully accredited to teach small boat sailing by a nationally recognised body. You can find more information about RYA Onboard at http://www.rya.org.uk/programmes/rya-onboard/Pages/hub.aspx
Sailfish Sessions – Fridays – 9th April until 21st July 2023 – 6.00pm
Junior members can learn to sail and improve skills during our Friday evening Sailfish sessions. At the beginning of the season we will do our best to welcome our new intake with games, water familiarisation exercises and land drills before they take to the water under sail. If the weather conditions are right we then launch the boats one at a time with a safety boat near by to provide instructions and reassurance. As the beginner’s develop skills and grow in confidence we bring them together with our more experienced junior sailors for sailing exercises, coaching, water-based games and mini races. By the end of our Sailfish season our aim is that the children can competently tack, gybe, sail at all points of the wind and right a capsized boat. With these basic skills the children can take part in club races on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons, where their skills can only develop further.
Kids can sail whatever their age, size or ability
How do I join Sailfish
If you want to join Sailfish you have 2 options:
1: As a Junior/Parent Membership.
This membership is for single or multiple juniors under the age of 18, plus one nominated adult from their household who will automatically become a Club Member but does not sail. This membership includes the fees for storing one boat and road trailer at the club or for the hire of club boats during sailfish sessions.
- P1 – 1 Junior plus Adult £85.00
- P2 – 2 Juniors plus Adult £150.00
- P3 – 3 Juniors plus Adult £195.00
2: As a Family Membership.
This is perfect for families with one or multiple children who are under 18 years of age, or are in full time education or training to the age of 21. The membership allows all members to sail and includes the fees for storing one boat & road trailer at the club and includes membership of Junior Sailfish.
Family Membership – £260.00
Click here or more information on membership
Will I need my own boat?
Junior membership includes the use of club’s boats during Sailfish sessions, i.e. Friday evenings and Saturday morning Sailfish sessions (see below). For junior members who take part in club racing you can arrange for the long term hire of one of the club’s boats. As you progress you may decide to buy a boat in which case we can offer advice about choosing the right boat for your child.
RYA Stages 1-4
On Friday evening sessions beginners start by following the RYA’s Youth Sailing Scheme Stages 1 to 4.
Stage 1 starts by giving students a basic understanding of how a boat sails and gaining experience of steering the boat.
Stage 2 includes a range of sailing skills and background knowledge.
Stage 3 requires students to be able to sail in any direction and to rig and launch their own boat. By the end of stage 3 our juniors are sailors, not beginners
Stage 4 involves being able to sail in a single handed boat, or in a double handed boat as a crew or helm. By the end of stage 4 juniors will be able to solve a variety of problems afloat.
Progression beyond Stage 4
The RYA’s Youth Sailing Scheme includes a number of advanced elements after Stage 4. We give our junior and youth sailors a taster of some of the advanced sailing stages such as racing, seamanship skills (e.g. rescuing a man overboard) and sailing with spinnakers. We concentrate on racing skills so that junior sailors can confidently take part in club sailing and events at other clubs.
What else can you tell me about Sailfish?
Friday evening Sailfish sessions are a great way for children to learn how to sail whilst making new friends, building confidence and having fun. If the weather is fine we will sail until shortly before the sun sets and pack away while it is still light. Sailfish sessions are a sociable occasion for the whole family: parents can get involved in various ways including rigging and catching boats and supporting their child. We also have a bar which can be opened for drinks after sailing.
Video
Junior sailors take a time out for fun on a Friday evening.
Video
Sailfish – Matt and Fin two Sailfish members go out in a GP14 in a good breeze.
What you’ll need
Your personal kit
Burwain RYA training centre will provide all the safety kit that you require, you will therefore need only the minimum of personal kit to get started. For the taster Sessions we recommend you bring
- A few layers of clothing
- A wind proof top/jacket is also beneficial
- Training shoes or wet shoes if you have them
- Hat and gloves
Your Sailing Experience
Sailfish taster session
On a taster session you will be teamed up with an experienced tutor or senior Sailfish member in a two handed boat or together in a larger Pico. This will require you to help balance the boat, set some of the sails whilst sailing and also have a go at steering (helming). You will be given instructions on when to Tack and Gybe to help keep the boat moving along as fast as possible in all directions.
Sailing qualifications
Following the RYA training scheme
As part of sailfish , you will follow various RYA learn to sail schemes
- RYA Stages 1,2,3 & 4
- RYA Levels 1 & 2
- Racing courses
- Improver courses for more experienced members